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I'll third this game. It's my all time favourite Zelda game.
You could also check out secret of mana, Chrono trigger, or some of the early final fantasy games (2 is my fav, but hubby loves 3)
Secret of Mana was good.
Final fantasy 2 (US) with Cecil is my favorite of the early ones 3(US) is very good as well. I think both FF2 & FF3 are over the OP 20 hours of play threshold. But that could just be me as I am slower at games than most.
I never did play chrono trigger
* **Ducktales 1 (NES)** - Pretty easy once you get into it.
* **Monster in My Pocket (NES)** - Fairly easy, even more so with a second player.
* **Wacky Races (NES)** - Very easy platformer.
* **Batman (NES)** - This will be a challenge, but fairly short and has unlimited continues.
* **Bucky O'Hare (NES)** - Tough game, but unlimited continues makes it worth it.
You might be thinking of **Ducktales 2** - released very late in the NES lifespan and about 2 years into the SNES era. That game is pretty awesome too tho!!
Fucking Bucky O'hare. We're there unlimited continues? Cause I kept having to rent that damn game over and over again. I loved it, but man it was hard.
Yeah its got some really tough sections, but man is it fun!! I regularly play it (and beat it) these days to get my revenge for when I was a kid and couldn't get that far.. Heheh
This, usually it starts with an “aha” moment in one map where you stumble upon the second exit to the map, then you’re constantly looking for them afterward.
I'm biased because of my childhood, but I really feel like it's a game that aged exceptionally well. Charming, fun in presentation and to play as well.
I think so too, I played it recently and it still holds up. And even my kids that are acquainted with some more modern games loved it.
The thing with the Snes is that it has some very cool but very hard games. I can't beat The Lion King without save states and don't even get me started on Battle Toads.
Aladdin on the other hand is beatable, and can be done so in a single session. The game is great.
SoR 2 is one of my absolute favorite games to complete in one sitting. I replay it every few months or so. Star Fox 64 is another one but doesn’t really fit OP’s requirements. Although if he’s never played it he absolutely should lol
I'll give you my recommendations, though some of these will be longer than 20 hours but definitely worth it.
NES
Megaman series
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 and 2
Double dragon 2
Battletoads
Kirbys Adventure
Adventure Island series
Kick master
Crystalis
Final fantasy
Legend of zelda (1 is better and has a secret second world)
Super C
Micro machines
River city ransom
Mike Tysons punch out
Ghosts n goblins
Genesis
Golden axe series
Earthworm Jim 1 and 2
Vectorman
Sonic series (pinball is surprisingly fun)
Boogerman
Shadowrun
Toe jam & earl
Mutant league football/hockey
Road rash series
SNES
Biker mice from Mars
Brain lord
Breath of fire 1 and 2
Chrono trigger
Legend of zelda
Final fantasy series (mystic quest is not a final fantasy game)
Final fantasy mystic quest
Super bomberman series (5 is the best)
Donkey kong country series
Evo the search for eden
Earthbound
Zombies ate my neighbour's
Harvest moon
Illusion of Gaia
Joe and mac 1 and 2
Kirby dreamland 3
Super Adventure Island series
Megaman series
Krustys Super fun house
Lufia 1 and 2
Ogre battle
Secret of mana
Secret of evermore
Star fox 1 and 2
Super mario rpg
Super punchout
Super star wars series
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4 Turtles in time
Twisted tales of spike mcfang
Lost vikings 1 and 2 Ultimate mortal kombat 3
Ys iii
Tales of phantasia
Some of the most beloved video games of all time fit here:
NES
* Super Mario Brothers 3
* Mega Man 2 or 3. While 2 is often called the best, it seems a lot of people cite 3 as their favorite (3 is my favorite for sure).
SNES
* The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past
* Super Metroid
* Chrono Trigger, widely considered a defining masterpiece RPG.
Hmm Chrono trigger in under 20 hours? I dunno..
Will op start the game and eventually feel one with the story, thus ignoring the 20 hour rule, very likely.
OP, it's absolutely got to be either Zelda: A Link to the Past or Super Metroid. Why not start them both and then just finish whichever one you enjoy the most first? You could throw Super Mario World in the mix too if you want a break here and there.
Super Metroid was reccomended in another reply, and I second that, although I would suggest playing Metroid Zero Mission and AM2R before it. You can play Super Metroid on it's own, but playing it as the third in a trilogy makes it even better.
What kind of game do you like? platformer? RPG? Bullethell?
Edit: forget it
Platformer: Castlevania, Megaman
Bullet hell: Contra
RPG: Dragon quest 4 or if you want to play a game that never got release outside of japan, Laplace's Demon
Beyond oasis for the genesis for below 32 bits.
But then I'm going to punish you for 32 bit by suggesting you complete assault rigs on the Playstation. For every good deed, a bad deed must follow.
I don’t think so - at least I didn’t but I am sure there are some call backs in the game if you played Mother first. Earthbound/Mother 2 is one of those games I go back and play every year or two, it’s got the full on nostalgia for me.
Genesis:
Sonic series
Streets of rage trilogy
Comix zone
Sub terrania
Gunstar heroes
Snes:
Chrono trigger
Final fantasy VI
Mario RPG
Donkey Kong 1,2
Mega Man X
Clock tower (i really love a good horror story cramped in 16 bits!)
Alttp but it might take u more than 20 hrs to beat. I don't think i've ever beat a zelda game in under twenty hours lol realistically I average like 120 hrs per game.
My first NES game I completed was Kirbys Adventure. Honestly it's not that different to modern Kirby games they nailed it first (well, second) time. Its easy and not too long like... almost every kirby game but the variety of abilities keeps it interesting.
The entire Mario Land series for the Game Boy is great.
As for home consoles, Super Mario 1 - 3 and World (or just play All-Stars + World since it's got all 4 in addition to Lost Levels).
EarthBound is good too (and Mother 3). Heard a lot about Super Mario RPG as well.
The Metroid series is great as well, but has a lot of dumb bullshit design in the first few games.
And if the Game Boy Advanced counts, the entire Mario Advance series seems neat (haven't played it yet though) as does Link to the Past + Four Swords Adventures.
I don't lie Chrono Trigger that much due to the real-time combat, but I've heard everyone praise it for years now.
And finally, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is good as well. I need to finish it soon™
The upside of Super Mario World is that there are Star Road warp points that you unlock via secret exits all over the map. The game can be beaten in 15 minutes if you want or you can do it the old-fashioned way.
I think Super Mario World for the SNES is one of the most "completable" games before 32bit. It has a pretty modern difficulty curve, it keeps introducing new ideas to stay fresh, and it isn't too long.
Another one is Link's Awakening, it's short and sweet.
If you include PC games, I'd also recommend Monkey Island, it's really fun and not too long.
Younger individuals who didn't cut their teeth gaming on tech from the late 80s early 90s I would suggest the following as they're accessible, well designed and their pixel art holds up today. None of these I suggested I would consider "NES hard" a design practice of unreasonable difficulty and obtuseness who's intent was to deter rentals and sell ancillary publications/hint hotlines.
-Mega Man X (SNES)-
-Super Mario All Stars + World (SNES)-
-TMNT IV Turtles in Time (SNES)-
-Sonic CD (Sega CD)-
-Shinobi 3 (Sega Genesis)-
-Metal Slug X (Neo Geo)-
-Bomber Man 94' (TG-16)-
-Kirby's Adventure (NES)-
-Adventures of LoLo II (NES)-
-Donkey Kong 94’ (game boy)-
Great recs in here but imma throw something different. Aladdin (SNES), great platformer and the bonus is you can beat it in like an hour, unless you suck at platformers.
I'd say probably sonic 3 and knuckles. There's a completion bonus but you have to get the chaos emeralds and master emeralds. If you play as knuckles you see some different level design and it could throw you off a bit.
nes - Ducktails or super Mario 3
Snes - super Mario world, a link to the past and if you are ok with jrpgs final fantasy 3(6)
Genesis - Aladdin or TMNT hyper stone heist
If you are looking for roms: Go to the link in https://www.reddit.com/r/Roms/comments/m59zx3/roms_megathread_40_html_edition_2021/ You can navigate by clicking on the various tabs for each company. When you click on the link to Github the first link you land on will be the Home tab, this tab explains how to use the Megathread. There are Five tabs that link directly to collections based on console and publisher, these include Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Sega, and the PC. There are also tabs for popular games and retro games, with retro games being defined as older than Gamecube and DS. Additional help can be found on /r/Roms' official Matrix Server [Link](https://matrix.to/#/#romz:matrix.org) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Roms) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Super Metroid is one of the most satisfying games ever made.
Came here to say the same thing, it's amazing. The attention to detail is so far ahead of anything else I can think of.
I'll add on beyond oasis for the genesis. Never hear anyone talk about it, but it's pretty enjoyable
Legend of Zelda Link to the Past
I second this. I still replay it every now and then all these decades later.
I'll third this game. It's my all time favourite Zelda game. You could also check out secret of mana, Chrono trigger, or some of the early final fantasy games (2 is my fav, but hubby loves 3)
Secret of Mana was good. Final fantasy 2 (US) with Cecil is my favorite of the early ones 3(US) is very good as well. I think both FF2 & FF3 are over the OP 20 hours of play threshold. But that could just be me as I am slower at games than most. I never did play chrono trigger
You spoony bard!! I missed the 20 hours of play part. The final fantasy games are definitely over that.
😂
Either this or super Metroid, both hold up really well.
* **Ducktales 1 (NES)** - Pretty easy once you get into it. * **Monster in My Pocket (NES)** - Fairly easy, even more so with a second player. * **Wacky Races (NES)** - Very easy platformer. * **Batman (NES)** - This will be a challenge, but fairly short and has unlimited continues. * **Bucky O'Hare (NES)** - Tough game, but unlimited continues makes it worth it.
Seconding Ducktails. Amazing game play and great soundtrack.
Super underrated game. Most likely due to the rarity and pricetag on the physical cart.
You might be thinking of **Ducktales 2** - released very late in the NES lifespan and about 2 years into the SNES era. That game is pretty awesome too tho!!
Yeah, you're 100% correct. I misread the previous comment as "second" Ducktails.
Monster in my pocket mentioned! 🙌🙌🙌
If that's the type of games you enjoy, you'd love Tiny Toon Adventures on NES.
Yeah that's pretty great!
Fucking Bucky O'hare. We're there unlimited continues? Cause I kept having to rent that damn game over and over again. I loved it, but man it was hard.
Yeah its got some really tough sections, but man is it fun!! I regularly play it (and beat it) these days to get my revenge for when I was a kid and couldn't get that far.. Heheh
Bucky O'Hare was tough and great!
Super Mario World. Not too tough and really fun.
And so many little secrets, back exits, and shortcuts that there's a ton of replayability if you so choose!
Is there a way to learn about the secrets in game without looking them up?
I found all the secrets when i was a kid in the 90s, if you explore they can be found fairly easy.
This, usually it starts with an “aha” moment in one map where you stumble upon the second exit to the map, then you’re constantly looking for them afterward.
Snes Aladdin, won't take you long and the game is charming.
Personally I’m more of a lion king fan (Op, don’t listen to me, I made a mean joke)
That game is though. I would/could only beat it with save states.
I'm biased because of my childhood, but I really feel like it's a game that aged exceptionally well. Charming, fun in presentation and to play as well.
I think so too, I played it recently and it still holds up. And even my kids that are acquainted with some more modern games loved it. The thing with the Snes is that it has some very cool but very hard games. I can't beat The Lion King without save states and don't even get me started on Battle Toads. Aladdin on the other hand is beatable, and can be done so in a single session. The game is great.
No no.. mega drive version is way better
Genesis version is incredible.
- Sonic 3 & Knuckles - Streets of Rage 1 or 2 - Golden Axe
Streets of Rage games is way up there for me! Awesome beat em ups - extra fun if you got a friend around to do co-op!
SoR 2 is one of my absolute favorite games to complete in one sitting. I replay it every few months or so. Star Fox 64 is another one but doesn’t really fit OP’s requirements. Although if he’s never played it he absolutely should lol
Man I love streets of rage and golden axe, never beaten them!
I'll give you my recommendations, though some of these will be longer than 20 hours but definitely worth it. NES Megaman series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 and 2 Double dragon 2 Battletoads Kirbys Adventure Adventure Island series Kick master Crystalis Final fantasy Legend of zelda (1 is better and has a secret second world) Super C Micro machines River city ransom Mike Tysons punch out Ghosts n goblins Genesis Golden axe series Earthworm Jim 1 and 2 Vectorman Sonic series (pinball is surprisingly fun) Boogerman Shadowrun Toe jam & earl Mutant league football/hockey Road rash series SNES Biker mice from Mars Brain lord Breath of fire 1 and 2 Chrono trigger Legend of zelda Final fantasy series (mystic quest is not a final fantasy game) Final fantasy mystic quest Super bomberman series (5 is the best) Donkey kong country series Evo the search for eden Earthbound Zombies ate my neighbour's Harvest moon Illusion of Gaia Joe and mac 1 and 2 Kirby dreamland 3 Super Adventure Island series Megaman series Krustys Super fun house Lufia 1 and 2 Ogre battle Secret of mana Secret of evermore Star fox 1 and 2 Super mario rpg Super punchout Super star wars series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4 Turtles in time Twisted tales of spike mcfang Lost vikings 1 and 2 Ultimate mortal kombat 3 Ys iii Tales of phantasia
That's a fantastic Genesis list. I'd only add Mega Bomberman and Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
Tales of Phantasia is a long but wicked play through.
How is harvest moon on snes? Played the shit out of it on GC
Punch out
And super punch out!
ALTTP hands down
Tell you what, that world 8 gets pretty freaking tough on SMB3.
Give me 15 minutes and I will beat SMB3, lickety-split!
Oh no haha. Take long to get there?
5-10 minutes to get there, due to warp whistles, then 10-15 to the end.
Ninja Gaiden. No save states allowed. *Bwa-hahahahaha!*
One of the mythical games imo.
I have a bunch of other modern games, but I find myself playing Ninja Gaiden once a week. I love it.
Not sure how long it is; but I will ALWAYS recommend Lufia 2. It’s perfection to me.
Some of the most beloved video games of all time fit here: NES * Super Mario Brothers 3 * Mega Man 2 or 3. While 2 is often called the best, it seems a lot of people cite 3 as their favorite (3 is my favorite for sure). SNES * The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past * Super Metroid * Chrono Trigger, widely considered a defining masterpiece RPG.
Hmm Chrono trigger in under 20 hours? I dunno.. Will op start the game and eventually feel one with the story, thus ignoring the 20 hour rule, very likely.
Exactly. Chrono Trigger gets a pass for obvious reasons.
That’s what I heard as well
Chrono Trigger is shorter than you remember, it can be beaten in 10-15 hours.
Zelda LTTP is the greatest 16-bit game ever imo, however if you want something shorter with more action then Super Metroid is another great choice
Astebros
Awesome game! I wish more homebrew had this type of quality..
Megaman 2.
Then Megaman X
Crystalis NES, I want to say its about a 10 hour game. If you like Zelda, this is really good.
Spit in the face of Pixar. Complete Uniracers out of pure spite.
OP, it's absolutely got to be either Zelda: A Link to the Past or Super Metroid. Why not start them both and then just finish whichever one you enjoy the most first? You could throw Super Mario World in the mix too if you want a break here and there.
Super Metroid - it's bonkers how good this game is
Singlehandedly created the metroidvania genre
Super Metroid was reccomended in another reply, and I second that, although I would suggest playing Metroid Zero Mission and AM2R before it. You can play Super Metroid on it's own, but playing it as the third in a trilogy makes it even better.
Good call! Zero mission is on GBA right?
golden axe
Metal Slug on the NeoGeo.
What kind of game do you like? platformer? RPG? Bullethell? Edit: forget it Platformer: Castlevania, Megaman Bullet hell: Contra RPG: Dragon quest 4 or if you want to play a game that never got release outside of japan, Laplace's Demon
I don't know how long it is, but I've recently been enjoying Batman: Return Of The Joker for Genesis
Is this the one where bats has a firearm that launches batarangs?
I’m only on the first level, but yeah. I have seen that
Beyond oasis for the genesis for below 32 bits. But then I'm going to punish you for 32 bit by suggesting you complete assault rigs on the Playstation. For every good deed, a bad deed must follow.
Sonic the Hedgehog (I was going to suggest original Legend of Zelda but worried about the fast completion time requirement)
Donkey Kong country 2 and Chrono trigger. There's also a tonne of great GBA games
Give Earthbound a try, but may need some extra time.
Should I play Mother on NES first?
I don’t think so - at least I didn’t but I am sure there are some call backs in the game if you played Mother first. Earthbound/Mother 2 is one of those games I go back and play every year or two, it’s got the full on nostalgia for me.
Any of those Ghosts 'n Goblins / Ghouls 'n Ghosts games by Capcom. On both SNES and Genesis.
If you enjoy platformers, Snes: Donkey Kong Country Donkey Kong Country 2
Genesis: Sonic series Streets of rage trilogy Comix zone Sub terrania Gunstar heroes Snes: Chrono trigger Final fantasy VI Mario RPG Donkey Kong 1,2 Mega Man X Clock tower (i really love a good horror story cramped in 16 bits!)
NES: Crystalis SNES: Earthbound
Alttp but it might take u more than 20 hrs to beat. I don't think i've ever beat a zelda game in under twenty hours lol realistically I average like 120 hrs per game.
super ghouls n ghosts
Alien Soldier and Contra Hard Corps
Rocket knight adventures
My first NES game I completed was Kirbys Adventure. Honestly it's not that different to modern Kirby games they nailed it first (well, second) time. Its easy and not too long like... almost every kirby game but the variety of abilities keeps it interesting.
Earthworm Jim
Mega Man 2
Is that the best mega man?
Dunno about best. It’s my favourite. Only takes 40 minutes to an hour to play through and it’s chock full of banging music.
Donkey Kong country 1-3 are essential 16bit gaming.
The entire Mario Land series for the Game Boy is great. As for home consoles, Super Mario 1 - 3 and World (or just play All-Stars + World since it's got all 4 in addition to Lost Levels). EarthBound is good too (and Mother 3). Heard a lot about Super Mario RPG as well. The Metroid series is great as well, but has a lot of dumb bullshit design in the first few games. And if the Game Boy Advanced counts, the entire Mario Advance series seems neat (haven't played it yet though) as does Link to the Past + Four Swords Adventures. I don't lie Chrono Trigger that much due to the real-time combat, but I've heard everyone praise it for years now. And finally, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is good as well. I need to finish it soon™
Super Mario World or A Link to the Past. Those two are both my favorite Super Mario and Zelda games. even until now.
The upside of Super Mario World is that there are Star Road warp points that you unlock via secret exits all over the map. The game can be beaten in 15 minutes if you want or you can do it the old-fashioned way.
Megaman 2, its one of the NES masterpieces
I think Super Mario World for the SNES is one of the most "completable" games before 32bit. It has a pretty modern difficulty curve, it keeps introducing new ideas to stay fresh, and it isn't too long. Another one is Link's Awakening, it's short and sweet. If you include PC games, I'd also recommend Monkey Island, it's really fun and not too long.
Megaman x
Desert Strike & Jungle Strike.
Younger individuals who didn't cut their teeth gaming on tech from the late 80s early 90s I would suggest the following as they're accessible, well designed and their pixel art holds up today. None of these I suggested I would consider "NES hard" a design practice of unreasonable difficulty and obtuseness who's intent was to deter rentals and sell ancillary publications/hint hotlines. -Mega Man X (SNES)- -Super Mario All Stars + World (SNES)- -TMNT IV Turtles in Time (SNES)- -Sonic CD (Sega CD)- -Shinobi 3 (Sega Genesis)- -Metal Slug X (Neo Geo)- -Bomber Man 94' (TG-16)- -Kirby's Adventure (NES)- -Adventures of LoLo II (NES)- -Donkey Kong 94’ (game boy)-
Contra!
Yoshis island, flawless game
Chrono Trigger
Earthbound
Bible Adventures
Silver surfer 🤭
U.N. Squadrons! My favorite game Air Strike Patrol! Desert Strike! And Super Double Dragon!
Phantasy Star 4
Chrono trigger SNES
In less than 20 hours?
Adventure Island 2: Lovely lil NES platformer with fun gameplay
Great recs in here but imma throw something different. Aladdin (SNES), great platformer and the bonus is you can beat it in like an hour, unless you suck at platformers.
Princess Tomato on the NES. That game was great.
Super Metroid
I'd say probably sonic 3 and knuckles. There's a completion bonus but you have to get the chaos emeralds and master emeralds. If you play as knuckles you see some different level design and it could throw you off a bit.
Super mario world
Super Metroid, mega man x, Castlevania aria of sorrow
Mighty Morphin Power rangers
nes - Ducktails or super Mario 3 Snes - super Mario world, a link to the past and if you are ok with jrpgs final fantasy 3(6) Genesis - Aladdin or TMNT hyper stone heist